Mounting for amblyoscopes



Nov. 24, 1936. G. A. HUNT MOUNTING FOR AMBLYOSGOPES Filed April 22, 19352 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Nov. 24, 1936.

G. A. HUNT MOUNTING FOR AMBLYOSCOPES Filed April 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTORY Patented Nov. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

My invention relates to amblyoscopes and the like, and particularly tomountings or supports therefor.

In amblyoscope structures as commonly built,

5 the tubes are connected to bracket plates of generally segmental formwhich plates are in turn pivotally connected to one another so that thetubes can be angularly adjusted with respect to one another, theinstrument being held in the hands of the patient somewhat after themanner in which binoculars or opera glasses are held, In the case ofpatients who are being treated for crossed eyes, for example, the tubeshave to be very accurately adjusted relative to one another in order tohave proper positions with respect to the lines of vision, and as theinstruments are of considerable weight, they are too cumbersome,especially for a child, and it is a strain on the patient to hold themand to move them into the exactly correct position.

One object of my invention is to provide a support for instruments ofthe character referred to, together with means for adjusting the tubesrelative to the support, and relatively to one another.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved holder forcards or transparencies employed with instruments of this character.

Some of the forms which my invention may take are shown in theaccompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of an amblyoscopeand showing the application of my invention thereto; Fig. 2 is a sideview thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken on the line IIIIII ofFig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the structure of Fig. 3; Fig.5 is a, view taken on the line VV of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view showing amodification of the structure of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a modification ofthe structure of Figs. 1 to 5.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, the amblyoscope itself which may be ofa somewhat common type, comprises a pair of sighting tubes each having adistal portion l5 and a proximal portion II. Mirrors or reflectingplates l2 are positioned in the angles formed by the tube portions l andl l so as to receive the projected images or characters. The outer endof each tube carries a bracket l3 that serves to support a lamp casingM, The brackets 13 are provided with vertical grooves l that serve asslideways for transparencies such as celluloid cards it or the like,through which the light is transmitted, so that the images or characterson the card will be shown on the mirrors [2. The patient, by placing hiseyes in front of the tube portions H, will view the images on themirrors I2, as in the case of a stereoscope.

In order to adjust the tubes so that the projected images on the mirrorsI2 will match or coincide with one another to a desired degree and inaccordance with the angular lines of vision of a cross-eyed person, thetubes are adjustable relative to one another, and this adjustment iseffected by means of two plates I1 and I8, the plate I8 being connectedto one tube, and the plate I! to the other tube.

Heretofore, the plates have been pivotally connected together near theirrear edges by a bolt; Connection between the plate I! and one of thetubes is by means of a pivot 19. An adjusting rod or bolt 20 ispivotally connected to the plate I! and extends through a U-shapedbracket 2| upon which the pivotally-mounted tube is supported. Anadjusting nut 22 is rotatably supported in the bracket 2| and hasthreaded engagement with the rod 20, so that when the extended portion23 of the nut is turned, the bracket 2| will be raised or lowered,carrying with it the associated tube, whereby the tubes can also beadjusted relative to one another in vertical directions.

The members thus far described are well-known in the art and do not inthemselves constitute a part of this invention. One improvement which Ihave incorporated in the structure shown in the drawings consists of acard ejector 25, which is shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 5, andconsists of a sheet metal plate angularly bent at its upper edge, sothat the reduced ends of its horizontal portion will extend into thevertical slots or guideways 15. The depending wing-like portion 26 ofthe ejector plate is provided with a slot through which extends a pin2'! that is usually provided for the purpose of supporting the cards l6at their lower edges. The plate 25 can therefore be given verticalmovement with respect to the frame l3 and the pin 21, and is raised topush the cards It upwardly some distance from the frame, Where it can beconveniently grasped by the operator and removed.

In addition to the usual pin 21, I prefer to provide additional pins 28that will hold the plate 25 in a horizontal position. The pins 21 and28, of course, all extend through the lower portion of the frame it.Since the plate 25 is usually formed of light sheet metal, it may bedesired to increase the weight of the same by applying a knob or ball ofmetal 29 thereto, so that the plate will readily return to its seat uponthe pins after it has been raised.

Other features of my invention will now be described, such featuresconsisting of an improved supporting means, and also of means foradjusting the amblyoscope tubes in vertical and horizontal directions.The main support consists of a base plate 3| and a tubular column 32. Apost 33 extends into the column 32 and is provided with alongitudinally-extending slot 34 into which the inner end of a set screw35 extends. The set screw 35 extends through and has threaded engagementwith the wall of the column 32. It will be seen that the post 33 can beset at any desired vertical position and retained there by the screw 35.A cushioning spring 36 is placed in the lower portion of the column 32to prevent excessive jar to the instrument if the screw 35' becomesloosened to such an extent as to allowthe instrument and the post tomove down suddenly. While the upper end of the post 33 could be madestraight, I prefer to bend the same, has shown more clearly in Fig. 2,so that a'person can more conveniently look into the instrument. Theupperbent end of the post 33 extends through the plates l1 and I8, andserves as a pivot pin therefor. Nuts 31 and 38 have threaded engagementwith the upper end of the post, to hold'the' plates H and I8 in place,and in some instances it may be desired to employ the nut 3! as a jamnut.

' In order to adjust the tubes relative to one another about the post 33as an axis, I provide handles 40 that are of tubular form and haveelongable or telescopic engagement with guide rods4l, The guide rods 4|have ball and socket engagement with the base plate 3|. This universalconnection is effected by drilling holes through the base, with theupper ends of the holes of reduced'diameter. The rods 4| are then pushedupwardly through the holes and the lower ends of the holes then filledto prevent the enlarged lower ends ofthe rods from falling out of theholes The handles 40' have universal joint connection with clampingyokes or brackets 42 that are clamped around the amblyoscope tubes. Theextremities of the clamps 42 are recessed on their inner faces toreceive ball-like extensions 43 formed on theupper ends of the handles40, thereby providing desired flexible or universal joint connectionbetween the parts 40 and 42.

The apparatus can be placed on a table with the patient seated in frontof the same, whereupon the patientmay grasp the handles 40 and whilelooking into the tubes shift the tubes until the mirrors |2 are sopositioned relative to one another that there will be properconformation of the images in said mirrors.

By supporting the handles 40 at their upper and lower ends, theadjustments referred to can be very conveniently and easily made andwithout excessive binding of the movable parts upon one another; V 7

It will be seen that if for example, the handles 40 were unsupported attheir lower ends, movement of the same for the purpose of adjusting thetubes would sometimes cause a twisting action to be exerted on the tubesthatwould bind them in their supports;

Referring now to Fig. 6, I show another means for ejecting the cards |6from the holder. Such means consists of a pair of plates 45 that areangularly bent at their upper ends and extend into the'vertical slots 46in the card holder. At intermediate portions, the plates 45 arepivotally supported on a pin 41 that extends through the card frame. Theplates 45 are weighted as indicated at 48, and the lower ends of theslots 46 are closed in any suitable manner to prevent the weighted endsof the plates from moving too far downwardly. In order to eject a cardfrom the slideways 46, the lower ends 49 of the plates 45 are pushedtogether by the fingers of the operator, thereby raising the extremitiesof the plates in the slots 46 and pushing the card upwardly.

Referring now to Fig. 7, I show a structure wherein handles of adifferent form than the handles 40 areemployed but which structure maybe otherwise of substantially the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5. In thisarrangement, clamping yokes 5| and 52 firmly engage the amblyoscopetubes. Handles 53 and 54 are connected at their upper ends tothe clamps5| and 52, respectively.

At its lower end, the handle 53 is rigidly connected to a collar 55 thatmay have anti-friction bearings in its inner surface for engagement witha column 3211, so that the collar 55 may be moved freely on the columnnot only in a vertical direction but rotatably;

The lower end of the handle 54 is connected through a coil spring 56with a collar 51 that is rigidly secured to the column 32a. The spring56- will permit vertical movement of the handle 54' relative to thecolumn, as, for example, when the post 3311 is raised and lowered; andwill also permit the upper end of the handle to be swung in a horizontaldirection or inclined direction, when adjusting the tubes about the axisof the post 33a; and will also permit the bracket 2| to be raised orlowered for adjustment of the associated tube in vertical directions.

It is not essential that the handles 53 and 54 be connected to thecolumn 32a, and I contemplate also the use of handles extendingdownwardly from the tubes in convenient positions at opposite sides ofthe column, where they can be readily grasped by the user and employedto effect adjustments of the tubes.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A mounting for amblyoscope tubes, comprising a support, means forpivotally connecting each tube to the support, a pair of handles each ofwhich is connected at one end to one of the tubes, and elongableconnecting means joining the other end of each handle and the supportand being pivotally movable on the support, which permits limitedmovements of the handles relative to the support.

2. A mounting for amblyoscope tubes, comprising a support, means forpivotally connecting one tube to the support, a handle connected at oneend to the last-mentioned tube, and elongable connecting means joiningthe other end of the handle and the support and being pivotally movableon the support, which permits limited movements of said handle relativeto the support.

3. A mounting for amblyoscope tubes, comprising a support, a postvertically adjustable on the support, means for connecting the tubes tosaid post for adjustment relative to one another about the post as anaxis, a handle connected at one of its ends to one of the tubes, andelongable means joining the other end of said handle and the support andbeing pivotally movable on the support, which permits limited movementsof the handle relative to the support in vertical and horizontaldirections.

4. A mounting for amblyoscope tubes, comprising a support, means forpivotally connecting each tube to the support, a pair of handles eachpivotally connected at one of its ends to one of the tubes, and aconnecting device between each handle and the support, comprising amember having mm.

scopic engagement with the handle and pivotal connection with thesupport.

5. A mounting for amblyoscope tubes, comprising a support, a rod havingtelescopic connection with the said support, means for pivotallyconnecting the tubes to the rod, a pair of handles each of which has auniversal joint connection at its upper end with one of the tubes, andconnecting devices each having universal connection at one end with thesupport, and at its other end having telescopic connection with one ofthe said handles.

6. A mounting for amblyoscope tubes, comprising a vertically-extendingsupport, means for pivotally connecting the inner end of each tube to anupper portion of the support, and an extensible handle device flexiblyconnected at its ends to the outer end of each tube and to a lowerportion of the support.

7. A mounting for amblyoscope tubes, comprising a vertically-extendingsupport, means for pivotally connecting the inner end of each tube to anupper portion of the support, on an inclined axis, and an extensiblehandle device flexibly connected at its ends to the outer end of eachtube and to a lower portion of the support.

GUY A. HUNT.

